Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Doctrine and Covenants 4, 11-16



Day 1: Read D&C 4 with headnote; Isaiah 29:14; 1 Nephi 14:7
1. To whom was this revelation directed? Knowing the recipient made his living as a farmer, what images can you find in this section that relate missionary work to farming?



2. What is meant by the "marvelous work" referred to in D&C 4:1? See also Isaiah 29:14, 1 Nephi 14:7.



3. What qualifies us to serve God? Which two principles are included in both the general list in D&C 4:5 and the more specific list in D&C 4:6?



BONUS: Compare D&C 4:5-6 with 2 Peter 1:2-10. How do these character traits prepare us for eternal life?



Day 2: Read D&C 11 with headnote; D&C 124:15
4. To whom was this revelation directed? What do we learn about the recipient from D&C 124:15?



5. List fruits of the Spirit from D&C 11:12-14.



6. What must we do before we declare the word of God?



Day 3: Read D&C 12 with headnote; Helaman 3:29; Hebrews 4:12
7. To whom is this revelation directed? According to the headnote, what had this man done to help bring forth the Book of Mormon?




8. Read Helaman 3:29 and Hebrews 4:12 with D&C 12:2. Look up the work "quick" in the dictionary. How is the word of God "quick"? How is it powerful?



9. According to D&C 12:7, to whom is this revelation also given? List traits of those who can assist in bringing forth God's kingdom in the latter days.



Day 4: Read D&C 13 with headnote; JS-H 1:69-71, with footnote * to 71; D&C 84:26; D&C 20:5-12; D&C 128:24
10. When, where, to whom and by whom was this revelation given? What impresses you most about Oliver Cowdery's note to JS-H 1:71?



11. List the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. See also D&C 84:26. Read D&C 20:5-12. List aspects of the ministering of angels.



12. Read D&C 128:24. What is one interpretation of the offering the sons of Levi (priesthood holders) will offer in the last days?



Day 5: Read D&C 14, with headnote
13. To whom is this revelation directed? Through what instrument was it received?



14. Which is the greatest of all the gifts of God? List instructions from D&C 14:2-7 on how we might obtain this gift.



15. In what three ways did Jesus identify himself in D&C 14:9?



Day 6: Read D&C 15 with headnote
16. To whom is this revelation directed?



17. According to the headnote, what was unique about this revelation? Why was the Lord pleased with the recipient's request?



18. List the actions described as being of most worth from D&C 15:6.



Day 7: Read D&C 16 with headnote
19. To whom is this revelation directed?



20. What do you think the Lord meant when he declared that his "arm is over all the earth" (D&C 16:2)?



21. Why is missionary work of great worth? See also D&C 18:10-16.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Doctrine and Covenants, Sections 2-3, 5-6, 8-10

Day 1: Read D&C 2 with heading; Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:17; D&C 110:13-16; Cross reference Abraham 1:2
1. What would the Lord reveal through Elijah? Compare D&C 2 with Malachi 4:5-6. How was Moroni's message different? How was it the same?



2. According to D&C 110:13-16, how has the prophecy regarding Elijah been fulfilled?



3. Read Malachi 4:5 with Luke 1:17 and D&C 2:2. Whose hearts did Malachi promise would be turned? How is that prophecy fulfilled in two parts, first with Luke's promise of the coming Messiah and second in the revelation given to Joseph Smith?



Day 2: Read D&C 3 with heading; Jeremiah 2:13
4. What does D&C 3:4 teach about the law of obedience? Who should we fear (respect) more than man? Cross reference Jeremiah 2:13.



5. Read D&C 10:6-8. Who is the "wicked man" of D&C 3:12, and why is he called wicked?



6. List four purposes for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, as listed in D&C 3:19-20.



Day 3: Read D&C 10 with heading; 1 Nephi 9:2-6; Words of Mormon 1:2-3
7. In what ways might we be tempted today to deliver up "that which [is] sacred unto wickedness"? Are there still men who would lie about sacred things in order to "get the glory of the world"? (v.19)



8. Why couldn't Joseph Smith recover the lost manuscript pages? How had the Lord provided for their loss hundreds of years before they were taken? (See also 1 Nephi 9:2-6 and Words of Mormon 1:2-3.)



9. List verses in this section that indicate the importance of preaching the restored gospel and bringing the Book of Mormon to the Lamanites.



Day 4: Read D&C 5 with heading; Ether 5
10. What was the first gift the Lord gave Joseph Smith? Why do you think this gift came first? How was he to obtain other gifts?



11. What is the promise to those who believe on the word of the Lord?



12. What was required of Martin Harris in order to become one of the three special witnesses of the plates, as mentioned in Ether 5?



Day 5: Read D&C 6:1-14 with heading, D&C 8 with heading
13. This revelation came after Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord on Oliver Cowdery's behalf. List what the Lord directed Oliver (and us!) to DO in verses 1-9.



14. Use Section 8 to list the gifts Oliver Cowdery had been given.



15. From D&C 6:10-13, list what we need to do with our gifts.



Day 6: Read D&C 6:14-37; 2 Nephi 1:15; Mormon 6:17
16. Can Satan read our minds and know our hearts?



17. List additional counsel the Lord gave Oliver Cowdery (and us) in D&C 6:18-20.



BONUS: Read D&C 6:20 with 2 Nephi 1:15 and Mormon 6:17. What does it mean to be encircled in the arms of the Savior?



18. How had the Lord already answered Oliver's request for a witness?



Day 7: Read D&C 9 with heading
19. What gift did Oliver Cowdery desire from the Lord?



20. What is the tone of this revelation from the Lord to Oliver Cowdery - angry? condemning? patient? loving?



21. List the steps in D&C 9:8 by which we may obtain wisdom from the Lord.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 1

Suggested title for D&C 1: The Lord's Preface to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants

Day 1: Read D&C 1:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
1. Unto whom does the Lord speak in the Doctrine and Covenants?



2. According to D&C 1:4, how is the Lord warning all people today? List two of those warnings from this reading.



3. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. How can we be "children of light"?



Day 2: Read D&C 1:8-16; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8
4. The Doctrine and Covenants was written to prepare the world for what event?



5. Considering D&C 1:14, what is required of us after we have heard the voice of the Lord? What if we don't?



6. Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-8. How is the testimony of Christ confirmed in us?



Day 3: Read D&C 1:17-23; 2 Nephi 32:3
7. List reasons these commandments were given to Joseph Smith and others in the latter days.



8. Compare D&C 1:20 with 2 Nephi 32:3. How can "every man speak in the name of God"?



9. By whom and to whom will the fulness of the gospel be proclaimed?



Day 4: Read D&C 1:24-31
10. List reasons the Lord gave the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants ("these commandments," v. 24)?



11. What are the rewards of humility?



12. Is the Lord pleased with each person in the church, or the organization of the church, or both?



Day 5: Read D&C 1:32-36; Matthew 22:16; Proverbs 24:23-24
13. What is the promise for those who repent? What is the warning to those who do not repent?



14. What would the Lord like to make known to all men?



15. Read Matthew 22:16 (with footnote 16a) and Proverbs 24:23-24. What does the Lord mean when he states he is "no respecter of persons"?



Day 6: Read D&C 1:37-39
16. Using the footnote to D&C 1:37a, how might the command to "search" differ from reading alone?



17. Give two reasons the Lord asks us to search the commandments within the Doctrine and Covenants.



18. List ways in which we can hear the voice of the Lord today.



Day 7: Review Doctrine and Covenants 1
19. According to the section heading, when was this section received and why?



20. Compare D&C 1:1-6 with D&C 1:37-39; D&C 1:7-6 with D&C 1:31-36; D&C 1:17-19 with D&C 1:28-30. List similar themes that build toward the center of the revelation.



21. What is the theme of the central verses, D&C 1:19-28?



BONUS: Define "Doctrine." Define "Covenants."